Revelation 15 (July 25, 2025) #1

The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and amazing are your deeds,

O Lord God the Almighty!

Just and true are your ways,

O King of the nations![a]

4 Who will not fear, O Lord,

and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come

and worship you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent[b] of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

Footnotes

Revelation 15:3 Some manuscripts the ages

Revelation 15:5 Or tabernacle

Revelation 15

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Summary

Revelation 15 serves as a prelude to the final outpouring of God’s wrath. John sees “another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished” (v. 1). Before judgment falls, John beholds a striking scene.

Verse 2, "And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.

These conquerors sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb (v. 3–4), praising God’s mighty acts, justice, and holiness. Heaven resounds with worship.

“Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

The chapter ends with the heavenly temple—the sanctuary of the tent of witness—being opened (v. 5). The seven angels emerge with seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen and golden sashes. The glory of God fills the temple with smoke, so that no one can enter until the seven plagues are completed (vv. 6–8). This vision underscores that God’s final judgment is both holy and inevitable.

Who is God

God is both the Almighty King and the righteous Judge. His works are “great and amazing” (v. 3), and His ways are “just and true.” He is the covenant-keeping God. He is the one praised in “the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.” The pairing of these two songs highlights God’s faithfulness in both the Old and New Covenants, as He redeems His people through mighty acts of salvation.

He is also the God of glory and holiness. The smoke that fills the sanctuary recalls scenes from Sinai and the tabernacle, reminding us that God’s presence is overwhelming and unapproachable apart from His grace. Before His final judgment, heaven itself trembles with awe.

What is our Guilt

We are guilty of treating God’s holiness lightly. We sing casually about His glory and live as though His justice will never come. Like those who worship the beast, we are tempted to compromise our allegiance to Christ for the sake of ease or acceptance.

We also forget that history is heading toward a final reckoning. We live as if God’s patience is endless and His warnings are empty. Revelation 15 reminds us that judgment is not arbitrary but the rightful culmination of God’s justice against unrepentant evil.

How does Grace Shine

Grace shines in the redeemed standing beside the sea of glass. They are not victors because of their strength but because they have “conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name” (v. 2)—a victory won through the Lamb’s blood. Their song is both ancient and new, celebrating God’s faithfulness through all ages.

Grace also shines in the delay before the final judgment. Even as the angels prepare to pour out the bowls, God grants this vision of worship, as if to remind His people that salvation and praise come before judgment. God’s wrath is not impulsive. It is patient, holy, and ultimately redemptive for His people.

Prayer

Almighty and Holy God,

we praise You for Your great and marvelous deeds, for Your ways are just and true. You are the God who redeemed Israel at the sea and who redeems us through the blood of the Lamb.

Forgive us for treating Your holiness lightly, for ignoring Your justice, and for living as though Your final judgment doesn't matter to our daily living. We confess our tendency to fear man more than we fear You.

Thank You that in Christ we are counted among the conquerors who will one day stand beside the sea of glass, singing the song of salvation. Strengthen us to live as those who belong to the Lamb, persevering in faith and worship as we await the day when Your justice is fully revealed.

In Christ Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.